{"product_id":"original-principality-of-romania-late-19th-century-named-french-made-officer-s-sword-with-scabbard-rare","title":"Original Principality of Romania Late 19th Century Named French-Made Officer’s Sword with Scabbard - Rare","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an exceptional and unusual 19th century Romanian officer’s sword of French manufacture, complete with its original brass mounted leather scabbard and displaying the combined heraldic emblems of Moldavia and Wallachia. The elaborate brass hilt features six draped flags beneath a crown, with two shields displaying the Moldavian aurochs head and Wallachian eagle, the principal symbols of the united Romanian state. Even more interesting are the French retail and manufacturing markings, including \u003cstrong\u003eMOURRE \/ 12. R. RICHELIEU\u003c\/strong\u003e on the folding guard and Coulaux \u0026amp; Cie on the blade ricasso. A faint engraved name is present on one side of the folding guard, while the opposite side bears the name Starke, making this a particularly interesting named sword with considerable potential for further research.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe political setting represented by the sword is the formative period of modern Romania. Moldavia and Wallachia entered a personal union in 1859, when Alexandru Ioan Cuza was elected ruling prince of both principalities. Their administrations were formally unified in 1862, with the state increasingly known simply as Romania. The country remained a principality until 1881, when Carol I became the first King of Romania. The eagle of Wallachia and aurochs head of Moldavia were central elements in the heraldry of the united Romanian state during this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is an excellent Romanian officer’s sword modeled very closely after the American Army Officer’s M1860 dress sword, and manufactured in France. The lovely scalloped guard shows six draped flags under a crown with two shields bearing a bull’s head and eagle in front. These are the symbols of the coat of arms of Romania. The guard and pommel bear similar motifs with an eagle on one side and shield on the other. The handle looks to be fluted horn which is now entirely missing the wire wrap.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe folding scallop guard is faintly engraved on the front with a name, and on the other side with the name \u003cb\u003eStarke \u003c\/b\u003enext to the maker mark:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eM. SON DASSIER\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMOURRE\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e12. R. RICHELIEU\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSurviving French officer swords are known with closely related Dassier \/ Mourre markings at 12 Rue de Richelieu, Paris, and Mourre is documented as the successor to Dassier during the French Second Empire period. One documented French general officer’s sword bears the related inscription Mᵒⁿ DASSIER \/ MOURRE Sᵉʳ \/ PARIS \/ R. RICHELIEU 12 and is dated approximately 1852–1870.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade ricasso bears a stamp for manufacture by \u003cb\u003eCoulaux \u0026amp; Cie\u003c\/b\u003e on one side, and a stamped \u003cb\u003eCrown \/ B\u003c\/b\u003e inspection mark on the other, over another French marking.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe blade shows considerable evidence of age and use. There is heavy wear and edge nicking, together with areas of former oxidation that have been partially cleaned away. The original blade buffer is now missing. There is also some movement between the blade and hilt, with the blade described as a bit wobbly to the hilt. These are important condition considerations, but the sword remains visually impressive and retains its major original components.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sword is accompanied by its brass mounted leather scabbard. The leather remains in good overall condition, although there is a noticeable bend. Both brass scabbard mounts are stamped on their reverse with \u003cb\u003e33\u003c\/b\u003e. The matching 33 stamps on both fittings are a desirable detail and support their having remained together as part of the same scabbard assembly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe overall design is strongly influenced by contemporary French and international officer sword fashions. Its scalloped folding guard, horn grip, decorative brass work, and French commercial manufacture are characteristic of the considerable freedom officers of the period often had in obtaining privately purchased dress swords. The hilt is not a straightforward copy of a standard French service pattern, however, and the specifically Romanian heraldic decoration demonstrates that it was manufactured for Romanian use or clientele.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIts French manufacture is also historically plausible. During the reign of Alexandru Ioan Cuza and especially under Prince Carol I, the developing Romanian army looked extensively to Western European military systems, while Romanian officers frequently had close connections with French military culture and training. A French made officer’s sword incorporating Romanian national heraldry fits naturally within that broader 19th century context.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis is a particularly compelling sword because so many identifying features survive together: the Moldavian aurochs and Wallachian eagle, elaborate crowned flag guard, horn grip, faint personal engraving, Starke name, MOURRE \/ 12. R. RICHELIEU Paris marking, Coulaux \u0026amp; Cie blade, Crown \/ B inspection stamp, and matching 33 scabbard fittings. The blade wear, missing grip wire and blade buffer, looseness at the hilt, and bent scabbard leather are all significant condition issues, but they do little to diminish the historical interest of such an unusual French manufactured Romanian officer’s sword. It would make an excellent addition to a collection devoted to 19th century Romanian arms, the United Principalities, Carol I era militaria, French military sword manufacture, or European officer edged weapons.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpecifications:\u003cbr\u003eOverall length: 37 3\/8”\u003cbr\u003eBlade Length: 31 3\/8\"\u003cbr\u003eScabbard Length: 33”\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45570013364293,"sku":"ONJR26JUGC009","price":895.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/D099A0C9-F06F-4C67-9169-E608D3653634.jpg?v=1786996638","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-principality-of-romania-late-19th-century-named-french-made-officer-s-sword-with-scabbard-rare","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}